Anger as Islamic leaders try to charge journalists

Radical Islamic leaders caused angry scenes today when they tried to charge reporters to attend a press conference.

Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, a preacher from north London, had called the meeting to issue a Fatwa, or religious edict, warning the US and UK they could face a terrorist onslaught similar to September 11 if they attacked Iraq.

But journalists were asked to pay £30 (€46) each to hear him and other Muslim hardliners speak.

Almost all of the media refused to pay, leaving the conference at the Euston Plaza Hotel in central London half empty.

Outside the conference room Anjem Choudary, UK leader of the Al-Muhajiroun Islamic group, defended the decision to charge for access.

"The press are normally more than willing to pay for stories, so I don't think this is any different," he said.

"We have had to hire out the conference room and we are just trying to share out the cost of the meeting.

"We have got Muslim leaders from all over the country together for you, so we think it's reasonable to ask you to pay for the privilege of hearing them speak."

But reporters said it was unprecedented to pay for entry to a press conference, arguing that it would affect their impartiality and that they would be providing publicity for the Muslim groups if they were allowed in, in any case.

After heated scenes, journalists were then asked to leave the £239 (€374)-a-night hotel.

Mr Choudary emerged from the conference room later and said: "Sheikh Omar said that if any of you declare the Shahada (converts to the Muslim faith) you are welcome to come in."

The conference was also attended by a number of radicals accused of supporting Osama bin Laden, including Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Masri, another north London preacher, Muhammad al-Mass'ari, the Saudi opposition leader living in exile in London and Yassir al-Sirri, an Egyptian dissident released from custody in London last month when extradition proceedings by America were dropped.

The Fatwa is a thinly veiled threat against Britain and particularly the US which a press release described as "the head of Satan".

Islamic radicals do not support Saddam Hussein, but see any military action by the US and Britain against Iraq as a greater evil.

Al-Muhajiroun said there was a "satanic alliance" between the US and the Iraqi opposition.

The press release added: "If the US and the UK continue to play with fire, there can only be one consequence which is for them to burn their hands and to choke on the smoke - September 11 being an example."

The Muslim leaders swept out of the conference room shortly before 1pm.

Refusing to comment on what happened in the meeting, they were then driven off.

Sheikh Omar told reporters: "There will be a press release later today. I have no comment at all at the moment."